British Expat Forum

It's the time of year when big acts used to (I don't think they still do to the same extent) release a Christmassy single.

By Christmas single I mean a song or tune with a Christmas theme. So it's not enough to have been released simply with the aim of making No.1 on Christmas Day (or even to have been there coincidentally), but it doesn't necessarily have to be a Christmas carol.

I'm thinking of things like:

- Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (my favourite)
- Greg Lake's I Believe In Father Christmas (second favourite)
- Cliff Richard's Mistletoe And Wine. (Surely the all-time worst - it's one of the few tracks I'll fast-forward past if it comes on . Mind you, I've never wittingly heard more than a few bars of his other one. 8) )

Forget the big acts (other than Bing Crosby...). The occasional memorable one comes from complete unknowns. Does anyone remember a priest singing Silent Night to his own guitar accompaniment?

And wasn't Amazing Grace released around Christmas? Both the young girl's solo and the Coldstream (?) Guards pipe band versions.

Ialso enjoyed Harry Belafonte's calypso Mary's Boy Child.

Of course, there were also things like the Battersea Dogs' Home dog chorus singing Jingle Bells....

Just remebered 'All I want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teef'

The pipe band version of Amazing Grace was the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, as I recall. The other version (which is on the compilation which features Pierce Pettit - see thread started by Kay) was by Judy Collins.

Yes, Harry B was good. The Boney M cover wasn't a patch on his recording.

How about Steeleye Span's Gaudete? (I'm sure I can remember someone saying they knew, or were related to, Maddy Prior; but I've forgotten now whether it was someone in real life or on these boards - she doesn't appear in a search, but it might have been pruned.)

'Step into Xmas' by Elton John gets my vote. And I think the cover version by The Wedding Present was better.

I think Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano has to have my number one vote.
It always makes me feel very Chrismassy and its fatal if its one of the songs being played on the piped music system if I happen to be out shopping. I immediately get the sudden urge to start spending heaps of money on Christmas presents!


Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero Ano y Felicidad.

Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero Ano y Felicidad.

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart.

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart.

Yep! - Its definitely a song thats been put out by the marketing gurus!

Slade!

(sings)

So here it iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis - Merry Christmas
Everybody’s havin’ fun

Look to the future now
It’s only just begu –u- uuun!


Don’t hear it often over here but when I do it always brings back lovely Christmassy memories of going to the pub at lunch time and not going back to work, giving Christmas kisses to complete strangers, decorating yourself and each other with tinsel etc. etc. Whenever this song came on the juke box everybody joined in.

I wonder if it is still like that in the UK around Christmas time.


Greg Lake's "I Believe In Father Christmas" is a great song as is Steeleye Span's "Gaudete" though I didn’t know the latter was a Christmas song.

Me neither. It's a good one anyway.

Sorry to be outside the box again, but I voted "Other" in the poll.

'Cos I have two Christmas favoroutes, neither of which was listed.

In descending order . . .

2. Kirsty McColl and the Pogues. Kirsty was one of our greatest singer/songwriters, and even if you can't understand a word he says, Shaun has a wee bit of all of us in him, should it get out.

1. Jonah Lewy. Wish I could be home for Christmas. Could he have ever imagined all those years ago, just how poignant these lyrics would be today. The Black Watch is home for Christmas. Just. But they're not all home. Some didn't make it. And as a reward, Blair is disbanding the regiment. Some thanks, eh?

Mike

"The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire). Written by Mel Torme and performed by Nat King Cole.

"Driving Home for Christmas" by Chris Rea.

Alan.

I'd forgotten that one. Off-topic, but what was the song Mel Torme sang, in duet with a girl whose name I have also forgotten, anout a summer hideaway?

"C-is for the Christ child born upon this day
H-for herald angels in the night
R-is our redeemer
I-means Israel
S- is for the star that shone so bright
T-is for three wise men, they who travelled far
M-is for the manger where he lay
A- is all He stands for
S-means shephards came...

And that's why there's a Christmas Day. "

( and I have no idea who first sang it)

I just love Silent Night, sends shivers down my spine......

SSue 8)

My deepest apologies. I always believed music came from the heart, but clearly favourite Christmas music is meaningless.

The five Black Watch boys who didn't make it home for Christmas - anyone spare a thought for them?

Will a Site Admin please either move this to the Ops/Pol board, or just delete it. How can we celebrate Christmas when our nation's sons are dying for a lie?

Mike

Sorry, Mike

Favourite Christmas songs is a topic which does belong on the music board. Your comments about the Black Watch should go on the Ops/Politics board if you want to discuss it further.

There are wars going on all the time around the world. Celebrating Christmas, or any other festival, is a way for people to forget the bad things of the world for a while and spread a little happiness.

Kay

Jim Reeves certainly sang it - no idea if he was the first.